COVID-19 updates: Anti-vaccine protesters halt vaccinations at Dodger Stadium

Demonstrators carrying anti-mask and anti-vaccine signs blocked the entrance.

Last Updated: February 2, 2021, 7:02 AM EST

A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now infected more than 102.5 million people worldwide and killed over 2.2 million of them, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern.
Jan 31, 2021, 12:00 PM EST

Winter storm to delay vaccine appointments in New York City

Vaccine appointments in New York City will be rescheduled due to a major winter storm heading toward the East Coast.

The nor'easter is expected to begin Sunday night and could dump up to a foot of snow onto the city.

"Last thing we want to do is to urge our seniors to come out in the middle of a storm like this," NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a press conference Sunday morning. "It doesn't make sense."

-ABC News' Joshua Hoyos

Jan 31, 2021, 11:45 AM EST

Anti-vaccine protesters halt vaccinations at Dodger Stadium

The mass COVID-19 vaccination site at Dodger Stadium, one of the largest in the country, was temporarily halted Saturday after the entrance was blocked by anti-vaccine protesters.

The group carried anti-vaccine and anti-mask signs, leading to a long line of cars waiting to get into the stadium, ABC Los Angeles station KABC reported.

The stadium entrance was closed from about 1:50 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., Los Angeles Fire Department Public Information Officer David Ortiz told ABC News. Vaccinations continued inside as the gate was closed, Ortiz said.

Protesters hold placards near entrance of vaccination center at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Jan. 30, 2021, in this still image obtained from a social media video.
daveedkapoor/Twitter via Reuters

A social media post described the demonstration as "SCAMDEMIC PROTEST/MARCH" and advised participants to refrain from wearing pro-Trump or MAGA attire.

"…we want our statement to resonate with the sheeple," the post read, according to The Associated Press. “No flags but informational signs only.”

No arrests were made as a result of the protests.

Jan 31, 2021, 10:18 AM EST

Vaccine distribution has been ‘seamless' under Biden: Gov. Asa Hutchinson

Republican Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Sunday that vaccine distribution has been "seamless" under the Biden administration.

"In terms of the vaccine distribution, it's been seamless. And I was delighted that we had a ... 14% increase in vaccine supply last week. This is going to be very, very important for us. They said they're going to invoke the Defense Production Act. I don't know the details on that, but anything they can do to speed up the production," Hutchinson said on ABC's "This Week."

"Thank goodness we have that partnership which is good with the federal government. And President Biden and his team is -- is working to assure that partnership and not tear it apart, which I'm very grateful for," he told "This Week" Co-anchor Martha Raddatz.

-ABC News' Jack Arnholz

Jan 30, 2021, 9:41 PM EST

Boston Marathon director tapped for Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium mass vaccination sites

Dave McGillivray, the race director of the Boston Marathon, has been selected by the state of Massachusetts to run the mass vaccination operations at Gillette Stadium and Fenway Park.

McGillivray owns DMSE Sports, which organizes and manages dozens of outdoor events every year. To help keep DMSE Sports afloat, McGillivray connected with CIC Health -- which operates the mass COVID-19 vaccination sites at Fenway Park and Gillette Stadium -- through the state of Massachusetts.

The main entrance at Fenway Park, where people eligible to be vaccinated for COVID-19 can enter, in Boston on Jan. 29, 2021.
Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images

Now, McGillivray is running logistics for both sites.

Fenway Park is the home of the Boston Red Sox, while Gillette Stadium, located in Foxborough, is the home stadium for the New England Patriots. The Gillette Stadium site opened two weeks ago, with Fenway officially opening Monday. Both sites are expected to administer 5,000 doses per day once fully up and running.

The Boston Marathon, usually held in April, has been postponed to October. The in-person event was canceled in 2020, though it was held virtually.

ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos contributed to this report.

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